Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
Nov 13th 2019, 3:13 am
#46
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,138
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
I've put myself off it now, and I love lamb. I wonder if tofu shaped into a lamb leg would taste the same?
Nov 13th 2019, 9:09 am
#47
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
Re: price of lamb in the UK, you've reminded me of one of my first 'what?!' experiences over there. I'd never been in an Iceland before, so was having a look around and came to the (frozen) legs of lamb. I can't remember the price, I know it was quite expensive but that wasn't what surprised me. There was a security tag on it, the kind that beep if you leave the shop without paying. A leg of lamb with a security tag, couldn't get over it!
Nov 13th 2019, 9:13 am
#48
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
Sainsburys website says leg of lamb £9/kg. 2.2lbs, or £4.50 ($7.65) for just over 1lb. You do really well to see it for $7 or $8/lb here and that's boneless. Not as good.
Back when money was tight I used to pick one up and put it straight back down when I saw $40+ on the label.
There are lots of things here that say $8/lb, save $10/lb and they are never $18/lb but Lamb isn't one of them. I don't remember when it was but there was a week in one store and then the following week in a different one where they were between $23 and $33. We had 7 in our freezer after that.
Back when money was tight I used to pick one up and put it straight back down when I saw $40+ on the label.
There are lots of things here that say $8/lb, save $10/lb and they are never $18/lb but Lamb isn't one of them. I don't remember when it was but there was a week in one store and then the following week in a different one where they were between $23 and $33. We had 7 in our freezer after that.
Nov 13th 2019, 10:25 am
#49
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,363
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
I like lamb but even on sale its pretty pricey. Costco sometimes has a whole frozen lamb.
But then you have to cut it into more manageable size.
But then you have to cut it into more manageable size.
https://www.today.com/food/costco-ju...la-jar-t146281 I recall when these have been available at my Costco quite a few people bought the 3 kg size.
Nov 13th 2019, 12:47 pm
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Formally Scotland. Now Bay of Quinte...Ontario
Posts: 2,466
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
And be flexible about when you do it. If you're all set to do it on a particular day and a flyer pops into your mailbox advertising half price Lamb or Premium Beef - or anything with a significant price reduction - starting the next day, consider delaying your shopping trip by 24 hours. Or maybe someone in your household has a branch of that store near where they work or have appointments the following week and they could pop in to get it.
That leg of lamb that's normally $48 or more looks very attractive @ $23.
That leg of lamb that's normally $48 or more looks very attractive @ $23.
If you've 'always wanted to have a dog' yet you allow yourself to be put off by a tiny thing like picking up poo, I don't think you've wanted a dog that much. It's not as if you actually have to use your bare hands 
It's like saying you'd love kids but have decided against it because of nappy-changing.
Get a dog. They're great.
It's like saying you'd love kids but have decided against it because of nappy-changing.
Get a dog. They're great.
Nov 13th 2019, 3:02 pm
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 205
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
Last year, I was walking into Waitrose [sorry, but it is the closest food store to me] and almost got knocked over by an old man in an electric wheelchair, taking the corner on two wheels. A nanosecond later, a security guard sprinted through the door, grabbed the old guy, and pulled a bunch of steaks out of his coat. I was impressed with the initiative.
Nov 13th 2019, 3:15 pm
#53
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
Last year, I was walking into Waitrose [sorry, but it is the closest food store to me] and almost got knocked over by an old man in an electric wheelchair, taking the corner on two wheels. A nanosecond later, a security guard sprinted through the door, grabbed the old guy, and pulled a bunch of steaks out of his coat. I was impressed with the initiative.
Nov 13th 2019, 3:39 pm
#55
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
I was amused by that idea. It's Waitrose though so there was an electric assist. It'd be funnier at Iceland, Granny with a lap full of meat and the grandkids pushing for all they're worth.
Nov 13th 2019, 4:08 pm
#56
Listen to the Music
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Fraser Valley BC
Posts: 4,703
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
People stealing to order from supermarkets for sunday lunch... OK
People stealing to buy drugs... Might be OK if we get sunday lunch
People breaking into cars to buy drugs... Not OK?
Nov 13th 2019, 5:40 pm
#58
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
People need to eat, food costs money, people without money sometimes are willing to steal in order to eat. Food banks in Canada tend to provide very little, when I lived in Ontario the local food bank only permitted 1 visit per month and provided a small shopping bag, about 2 days of food on average, the city in BC where I used food bank, it was 2 visits per month, average of 1-2 days worth of food.
It's better in Vancouver, the food bank allows weekly visits 2-3 day food supply each visit. But still can be hard for people to get through a week with sufficient food if they lack money to buy it.
I have never had to shoplift food, but I certainly understand why some might get desperate enough to do so. Food insecurity is an issue in Canada.
It's better in Vancouver, the food bank allows weekly visits 2-3 day food supply each visit. But still can be hard for people to get through a week with sufficient food if they lack money to buy it.
I have never had to shoplift food, but I certainly understand why some might get desperate enough to do so. Food insecurity is an issue in Canada.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Nov 13th 2019 at 5:49 pm.
Nov 13th 2019, 5:53 pm
#60
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Biggest Money Lessons from Living in Canada
People need to eat, food costs money, people without money sometimes are willing to steal in order to eat. Food banks in Canada tend to provide very little, when I lived in Ontario the local food bank only permitted 1 visit per month and provided a small shopping bag, about 2 days of food on average, the city in BC where I used food bank, it was 2 visits per month, average of 1-2 days worth of food.
It's better in Vancouver, the food bank allows weekly visits 2-3 day food supply each visit. But still can be hard for people to get through a week with sufficient food if they lack money to buy it.
I have never had to shoplift food, but I certainly understand why some might get desperate enough to do so.
It's better in Vancouver, the food bank allows weekly visits 2-3 day food supply each visit. But still can be hard for people to get through a week with sufficient food if they lack money to buy it.
I have never had to shoplift food, but I certainly understand why some might get desperate enough to do so.
On a loosely related point, read this article the other day. It's a longish interesting read about a homeless guy that died (UK) about a year ago. I remember the brief articles in the news at the time, but this is his back story.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2...hamid-alamdari
